Hiking the Erin Moore Trail in Lions Bay
Contents
Erin Moore Trail Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 8Km
Elevation Gain: 615m
Highest Elevation: 611m
Average Gradient: 15.38%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 5 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2 – 3 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Erin Moore Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°27’22.1″N 123°13’50.6″W
Erin Moore Trail Overview
The Erin Moore trail is one of many hikes departing from Lions Bay, though certainly one of the lesser traveled trails in the region, sometimes described as a hidden gem.
The trail is named in honor of a young girl, Erin Moore, a local to Lions Bay, who was just 7 years-old when she passed away in a tragic accident while hiking with her family in the area after being struck by a rockslide. The community and family banded together to build an “enchanted forest” memorial along the trail in Erin’s memory, filled with decorations and life advice, just one of a few notable sights along this adventurous hike.
As well as the Erin Moore memorial the hike does offer a scenic viewpoint above Howe Sound, similar to the considerably more popular Tunnel Bluffs hike.
The Erin Moore trail is a rugged hike through some technical forest terrain, with little in the way of markers or signage throughout. The trail is mostly straightforward to follow but a map would certainly be useful at times. The lower, west side of the loop traverses across some steep technical terrain, with a lot of ups and downs, climbing under fallen trees, crossing logs and creeks and clambering over slick rocks. If you like adventurous outings this is very much that. If you prefer a well manicured trail you might want to give this one a miss.
While the trailhead does begin in Lions Bay, it does not share the same trailhead as the other extremely popular hikes in the area. Instead, parking is at the end of Oceanview Road, with just a few parking spots directly at the trailhead, and several more sprinkled along the road. Pay parking is in effect during the peak season, as is usually the case for any hike beginning in Lions Bay.
The Erin Moore trail is a year-round option thanks to its relatively low elevation. That being said you may hit snow/ice during the winter depending on conditions/weather, and this wouldn’t be an advisable hike under those circumstances due to the technical nature of the hike. This is a pet friendly trail.
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Is the Erin Moore Trail worthwhile?
The Erin Moore trail is an adventurous hike that will likely take longer than you’d imagine given the relatively short stats. There are a few nice spots along the way to enjoy, the enchanted forest is a nice touch, plus there’s a second remembrance site with a huge double set of recliners to sit and enjoy nature in. The main highlight is the viewpoint above the Howe Sound though, which is more expansive than I had envisioned. It’s likely even possible to set up a tent here and camp out overnight enjoying the views (indeed there was evidence of this).
Overall this is a fun little outing if you want a quick trip that’s close to the city, especially if you’re looking to avoid big crowds.
How difficult is the Erin Moore Trail?
Despite the fairly high average gradient of ~15% I wouldn’t consider the Erin Moore trail a particularly difficult hike. There are certainly stretches that will leave you wheezing a bit, but they’re usually followed by a flat or downhill spot shortly after. Most of the hike is undulating in nature and as such you’re never facing a very sustained climb (assuming you go counter clockwise). It’s probably on the harder end of moderate overall.
Technically this hike is a bit involved but not difficult. As noted you will spend a decent amount of time zigzagging through the forest on uneven terrain, climbing up hills then immediately back down, crossing creeks, navigating over slippery logs, ducking under fallen trees and brushing foliage throughout. It has a bit of everything in a short space of time, which some people will love and others might find annoying.
Erin Moore Trail Route Information
The trailhead for the Erin Moore trail is at the very end of Oceanview Road in Lions Bay. You will reach a gate at the end, which is where the trail begins. There are a few parking spots right by the trailhead, with several more interspersed along the road as you approach. Note that the AllTrails route begins the hike further down in Lions Bay and assumes you will be hiking up this road.
From the gate at the end of Oceanview Road you begin by following a wide gravel trail for a few hundred meters. Soon you will reach a junction which you’ll want to take, with a narrow trail leading into the forest and a sign for Unnecessary Mountain. The trail narrows into a typical forested path, climbing fairly steeply for the next couple of hundred meters.
You’ll reach another junction here with a sign for Unnecessary Mountain to the left and the Erin Moore trail to the right. Assuming you are doing this loop counterclockwise like most (I’d suggest this myself, it’s more gradual and gets the technical terrain out of the way early) you’ll want to follow the Erin Moore signage.
Almost immediately after joining the Erin Moore trail you will pass a sign indicating you’re about to enter the enchanted forest. Here you will find all sorts of decorations, quotes and photos of Erin displayed throughout the trail, erected by the community and Erin’s family and maintained over the years.
The trail here is a little confusing and tricky to follow as the enchanted forest has a variety of trails in different directions. The forest is quite rugged and there is a creek crossing that adds to the complexity as well. I found following a map was useful as the actual trail isn’t marked in any way.
Once you’re beyond the enchanted forest the trail network consolidates back to a single track and should be easy enough to follow once more, though the terrain continues to be quite rugged for the most part. Over the next kilometer or so the trail remains mostly flat with some slight undulations here and there. You’ll pass by another memorial site, this time not for Erin, including a couple of beautifully crafted recliners to sit and enjoy the peace of the forest. They also make for a fun photo.
Back on the trail, in a few hundred meters you’ll reach another steep section as the path quickly rises 50m before dropping back down the same amount immediately. Here you’ll have to cross over Lone Tree Creek, which has a makeshift bridge and some rope to help. Depending on the time of year you go you may get wet feet here, I had to take my boots off as the spring melt created a raging creek that partially covered the bridge with rapid flowing water. Most of the time it should be fine though.
On the other side of the creek crossing you will begin climbing fairly steeply once more, navigating around a few bluffs in the process. After ascending almost 150m you’ll find yourself in a beautiful sparse forest covered in moss, and shortly ahead you’ll reach the best viewpoint of the day. Keep an eye out for an opening in the forest on the right leading to a bluff overlooking the Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky Highway below. This is a spacious bluff similar in size to Tunnel Bluffs, though considerably less busy. The views are fairly impressive and this is the best view of the hike, so it’s a good place to stop and have a bite to eat.
Back on the trail it remains mellow for a short stretch before reaching a brief, steep climb on a boulder field and cutting back on itself to start returning on the other side of the loop. You’ll soon traverse across the top of this boulder field, offering some more nice views over the Howe Sound from a higher vantage point than before.
Soon you’ll re-enter the forest though, with the trail continuing to traverse the slope as you follow the eastern side of the loop. This side of the loop is much simpler, with a well defined trail and less technical terrain. You’ll cross back over Lone Tree Creek, which should be straightforward. The next 1.5km of the eastern side of the loop is very straightforward and fast travel, with little in the way of elevation gain.
Eventually you’ll reach the end of the loop where the trail reconnects with the Unnecessary Mountain trail. There will be some signage here but just make sure to descend back down towards the trailhead rather than continuing to climb up Unnecessary Mountain. The descent back to the gravel road where you began the day is steep but fairly short lived, just 600m or so. Once back on the gravel road you simply walk back to the gate and ultimately your vehicle.
When should I hike the Erin Moore Trail?
The Erin Moore trail is a year-round hike that is almost entirely in the forest. For me this is a good shoulder season hike when the weather isn’t great but you want to get out into nature. I wouldn’t dedicate a bluebird day to this myself.
While this hike might be fine in winter too, it would be good to know where the snowline is, as if you hit it you could very well find yourself in some tricky spots as the entire hike is traversing across steep slopes, something that is not easy in snow or ice.
Top Tip
Give yourself more time than you might think for this hike. Despite it only being 8km, a distance many could usually do in 2 hours without much issue, the technical nature of the hike will slow you down. 3 – 5 hours is probably a reasonable estimate depending on your speed.
I’d suggest doing the loop counter clockwise as this makes the ascent more gradual than a clockwise approach, which would be very steep at the beginning. It also gets you past the technical terrain earlier on, which might be preferable.
